August 30th, 2006 disneybear Posted in Family, This 'n That |
I have fond memories of my mother telling me the first verse of this poem when I was a child. She would say the first part of a sentence and have me say the last word. I remember how I loved when she would clap here hands together when the trap closed on the poor mousey!
They Didn’t Think Once a trap was baited
With a piece of cheese;
It tickled so a little mouse,
It almost made him sneeze.
An old rat said, “There’s a danger,
Be careful where you go!
“Nonsense!” said the other,
“I don’t think you know!”
So he walked in boldly -
Nobody in sight -
First he took a nibble,
Then he took a bite;
Close the trap together
Snapped as quick as wink,
Catching mousey fast there,
‘Cause he didn’t think. Once there was a robin,
Lived outside the door,
Who wanted to go inside
And hop upon the floor.
“No, no,” said the mother,
“You must stay with me;
Little birds are safest
Sitting in a tree.”
“I don’t care,” said Robin,
And gave his tail a fling,
“I don’t think the old folks
Know quite everything.”
Down he flew, and kitty seized him
Before he’d time to blink;
“Oh,” he cried, “I’m sorry,
But I just didn’t think.”
Phoebe Cary
(1824-1871)
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November 12th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
There are 3 additional versus.
Little robin readbreast lived outside the door, and wanted to go inside and hop upon the floor.
“Oh no”, said the mother “you must stay with me,
little birds are safer sitting in a tree”. “I don’t care” said the little bird, and he gave his tail a fling. “I don’t think the ole folks know quite everything”. So down he flew, and kitty seized him before he had time to blink. “Oh”, he cried, “I’m sorry, but I just didn’t think.”
Once there was a turkey, fond of her own way, who wouldn’t ask the ole folks where to go or stay. ” Goodness”, she said “here I am half grown, surley I’m old enough to go about alone”. So off she went, and someone spying saw her pass. Soon like snow her feathers covered all the grass. So she made a supper for some sly young mink, because she was so head strong that she just didn’t think.
Now my little children, you who here this song, don’t you see what kind of trouble comes from thinking wrong? Won’t you take a warning from their dreadful fate, who began their thinking when it was to late. The End.
This has been passed down in my family for years by our “Granny Easterly”. All children and adults for that matter should read and memorize this poem. it is benifical in so many ways. I have had to recit it several times through out my life to remind me to do the right thing. This poem means the world to me and my family so please pass it on to your loved ones. Maybe they will begin their thinking BEFORE it is too late.